Quakertown district to hold classes on Martin Luther King Day Monday

Chris English @courierc

Saturday

Jan 13, 2018 at 6:00 AM

School district officials said making up a snow day on what is normally a holiday was the best option.

Quakertown Community School District will hold classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday when schools typically are closed, and district Superintendent Bill Harner said he does not believe the decision dishonors the famed civil rights leader.

School district officials decided to make up one of the two snow days used so far on Monday. Harner said the decision has been met with mostly positive feedback.

"I walked through the cafeteria (Friday) and the kids seemed very disappointed in the article (in another publication critical of the decision) and how we were portrayed," Harner said. "Our teachers are excited about the opportunity to honor Dr. King on that day."

He added in a blog on the district website that "with the unfortunate situation that happened in the fall in mind, and our strategies to combat racism, disrespect and hate in our community, we have a wonderful opportunity to both stick with this year's published calendar and honor Dr. King. Every student will have the opportunity during their Social Studies period of instruction on Monday to learn about Martin Luther King and his legacy."

The "unfortunate situation" Harner referred to occurred on Oct. 6, when two Quakertown middle school students hurled racial slurs at Cheltenham High School cheerleaders during a football game at Quakertown High School.

Since the incident, the school district has partnered with The Peace Center in Langhorne for diversity programs for staff and students, and training for staff. It also is logging incidents of racism to see how widespread the problem is.

Harner added in a telephone conversation Friday that students who want to participate in service projects honoring King on Monday will be excused from school.

Students from various Bucks County districts — including Central Bucks, Council Rock and Pennsbury — will participate in service days at schools in those districts on Monday, even though they are off from school.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been designated as a snow make-up day in Quakertown for the last few years, Harner said in the blog. That practice could change.

"For next year, we will be suggesting that we change the traditional practice of designating MLK Day as an emergency make-up day, but continue to designate these make-up days throughout the second half of the school year instead of putting them all at the end," Harner's blog said.

For this school year, making up the day on Martin Luther King Day was preferable to options like making it up on one of four teacher in-service days remaining this school year, Harner said. Teachers need those days without students present for staff development, he added.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Follow Us

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Bucks County Courier Times ~ 8400 N. Bristol Pk, Levittown, PA 19057 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service